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Original poster

To think it is shocking boots don't give points on first formula

384 replies

Mrswhiskerson · 07/09/2011 14:34

This was brought to my attention again because a friend of mine has just had a baby tried to breastfeed suffered mastitis and started feeling really down so she switched to formula, when she handed over her advantage card she was told points were not given on first formula , she felt bad enough she could not breast feed and now it feels like she is getting penalised for it elsewhere.

I found the same thing when I had ds a year ago when I was told ,you don't get points for first milk I felt really bad too it's like your being punished for not breastfeeding in a way .

This is in no way a bf vs ff debate I just think it's wrong of boots to do this.

OP posts:
MilaMae · 08/09/2011 13:01

Not sure I said I found it hard going to the supermarket Hmm.

It's a matter of principal and ff mums being treated like criminals and 2nd class citizens. Bfing mums expect to be able to feed where they choose well ff mums like to be able to buy their babies food wherever they choose without being penalised.

belgo · 08/09/2011 13:02

By not being giving reward points they are not being penalised, they are not being treated as criminals, nor second class citizens. And they are free to buy formula milk where ever they want

Crosshair · 08/09/2011 13:03

''It's a matter of principal and ff mums being treated like criminals and 2nd class citizens. Bfing mums expect to be able to feed where they choose well ff mums like to be able to buy their babies food wherever they choose without being penalised.''

Get a grip?

Moominsarescary · 08/09/2011 13:03

As the government give free formula to those on a low income I don't see why those who pay for it shouldn't get a few bloody points at boots

As for advertising and free samples of milk encouraging women to ff in that case the government shouldn't give it free to anyone surely as this would class as encouragement.

Seems abit hypocritical to me

Katiepoes · 08/09/2011 13:05

It's only the first formula though. In the Netherlands you get points/promos whatever on formula targeted at babies older than six months.

Belgo that's terrible - you can buy formula all over the place here, even some of the motorway garages carry the small prepacked cartons.

SiamoFottuti · 08/09/2011 13:10

Criminals? How the fucking fuck to you reach that point? You win for most moronic post on a really stupid thread. Kudos, thats quite impressive in a the monkeys are taking over the asylum kind of way.

upahill · 08/09/2011 13:13

This thread is truly bonkers!!!

naturalbaby · 08/09/2011 13:13

since when is a reward an expectation and a right?!? what about the people who don't have boots cards but still shop in boots?
a few years ago there were no points or rewards and suddenly the world ends if every penny spent isn't acknowledged and rewarded??

Alibabaandthe80nappies · 08/09/2011 13:17

Mila they are not being penalised. If it is cheaper elsewhere, then buy it elsewhere. It is very simple.

And as for 'criminals' - wtf? If you have issues about how you fed your babies, that is up to you, but no-one here is calling women who FF criminals, or anything else for that matter.

belgo · 08/09/2011 13:18

Katiepoes - yes it is extremely frustrating. My friend was visiting with her baby and there was a problem with the formula milk meaning she could not use it. We needed to buy formula milk as quickly as possible but this was at midday on a weekday and the pharmacy was closed for an hour and a half. The milk cost 17 euros, and the poor baby had to wait all that time to get his milk. I really wished they sold it in supermarkets!

Moominsarescary · 08/09/2011 13:24

Big super markets and boots are the only places in our area that stock the formula we use , the small coop down the road doesnt stock our brand.

When ds2 came out of hospital we got formula on prescription as he was being topped up with a prem milk and had been since the day he was born as I never produced as much ebm as they wanted him to be taking.

After 6 weeks I stopped expressing and started using just the formula. When he was 3 months old his weight gain was so high that neonatal and the health visitor said if I wanted I could change him to a normal formula, I didn't have to but decided this it was the best way forward ( ds3 weighed 9 lb by this point before someone makes a comment about formula making babies fat)

I could have stayed on prem formula getting it free but chose to change and therefore pay because it was best for my baby so I don't think most women would be more likely to swap and change brands if promotions were aloud on formula and I can't see them changing to ff due to a few points at boots either.

carriedababi · 08/09/2011 13:30

yabu

baby formula should not be advertised at all.even 6 months plus, that stuff was only invented to get round advertising laws anyway, they always use v young looking 6 month oldson the 6month plus ads

wildhairrunning · 08/09/2011 13:35

I did feel physically and emotionally drained due to bf and had mastitis several times but I chose to carry on because giving my babies breastmilk was more important than my discomfort and I battle through the hard times

MilaMae · 08/09/2011 13:36

Sorry giving points for everything bar formula infers it's dirty, akin to an illegal substance.

It's totally ridiculous it's baby milk,nothing more nothing less and I fail to see why Boots should be forced to do this when things far worse are sold which earn points.

It's saying it's wrong to buy formula.

You can't even use your points to buy formula but you can to buy Calpol,pharmacy items,crisps and other shite. Basically they're sending out the message that formula is a substance to be avoided but hey junk food and over the counter drugs are all great.

SiamoFottuti · 08/09/2011 13:37

no it really doesn't. But you have major ishoos about it, clearly.

ledkr · 08/09/2011 13:39

You get points on bottles and sterilising stuff so its apointless excercise.

Dont get points on fags is hardly comparable Hmm

Moominsarescary · 08/09/2011 13:40

We've allready had the digs about ff on this thread

Bf is far superior

You should be given a free packet of fags with every tin

No wonder women feel like "criminals and second class citizens for using formula

As for alibaba and the "if you have problems with the way you feed your baby" crap, I don't think they do, I think a small group of over obsessed breast feeders have a problem with ff and try to make everyone else feel shit about it

MorrisZapp · 08/09/2011 13:42

Silly to be 'shocked' but I think it's daft that you can't get points on formula. Yet again we get the 'change the logic to suit the side of the argument' effect...

Anybody saying 'you shouldn't get points for formula because I don't get points for BF' is having a laugh surely. Formula is a product. In a shop. That costs money.

Some people think 'any little helps' when it comes to promoting BF, ok, fair enough. But really, does anybody think that any woman even knew the Boots situation before they made their feeding choices? Like many women who FF the timeline for me was 1. Breast feed for a bit. 2. Change over to formula. 3. Go to Boots, dicover points issue, say 'gosh'. 4. Carry on with chosen feeding method.

Unless Boots are telling women in advance that they won't be getting points then I'd say it's irrelevant in the promotion of BF.

However, all this is by the by compared to the bigger issue which is surely this - as others have said, the 'follow on' type milks look v similar to first milk. But at the moment, you can get points (10 per pound) on the follow on but not the first milk. Wouldn't that influence a skint parent (who has already settled on a feeding choice) to introduce 'follow on' milks earlier?

I moved DS to the much derided 'follow on' types as soon as he hit the age it said on the tin. 10% discount on a major household expense is worth going for. We're getting him onto cows milk the day of his first birthday for the same reason. He's fine, thriving, and we're saving a chunk.

I bet loads of people 'upgrade' sooner than the tin advises.

wildhairrunning · 08/09/2011 13:42

Yes cloudy I do know what invariably means but I doubt that redhen meant that - that in every single instance!

Yet the fact remains that being unable to bf is rare - if people don't want to or they stop then stop but don't say you couldn't if you could!

wildhairrunning · 08/09/2011 13:46

On the contrary - some of the formula feeder posts on here are filled with desperate insecurity! I this going to follow another recent thread where some posters were desparate to undermine the benefits and importance of bf? I wouldn't be surprised...

Moominsarescary · 08/09/2011 13:46

Well good for you wildhair I gave birth without any pain relief but I'm not going around crowing about it and I wouldn't expect everyone else to do the same

MilaMae · 08/09/2011 13:46

Siamo I have no issues as I've done both(ff & bf) for as long as I wanted to and I have 3 uber healthy,extremely bright children. Issues nar annoyance at bullying,pointless,hypocritical rules yes.

MorrisZapp · 08/09/2011 13:47

I agree with Mila. Given that anybody taking a tin of formula up the till has already decided to FF, the message that not getting points gives is that the purchase is not approved of.

Fags and booze, I've bought both and fully understand why I will never earn points on them. Formula milk - nope. Don't get it.

SiamoFottuti · 08/09/2011 13:47

You doth protest far too much, Mila. Your points are bonkers.

ShirleyKnotFrotGrot · 08/09/2011 13:50